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MSUREPORTER.COM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021
Proof of vaccine gives students a chance at a free semester By JENNA PETERSON News Director
Last Thursday, Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Student Affairs announced their new incentive program to encourage students to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. To push this program, the University will be offering free t-shirts to everyone who shows proof of vaccination and there will be
Campus helps to encourage students to quit nicotine
five students who will receive a free semester of tuition and fees. David Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, was one member of the team who thought of this program. “We decided to go with the two things students kind of respond to from our own experience.” Jones mentioned how the team wanted to include the t-shirt into the
program to ensure everyone who shows proof of vaccination wins something. The semester’s tuition forgiveness was brought to attention to allow students to continue their education with one less thing to worry about, with the money coming from the HEERF federal funding program. MNSU students seem to thoroughly enjoy this program and believe it will encourage their classmates to do their
part and get vaccinated if they aren’t already. Samantha Haeder, a freshman at MNSU, didn’t know about the incentive beforehand but still believes it will be helpful. “I think this is a good way for it because it’s not them requiring it but it still gives people who are getting the vaccine a good reward.” VACCINE on page 4 u
COMING OUT
By JENNA PETERSON News Director
Throughout the past few years, vaping and other forms of tobacco usage has become popular for college students. This habit, however, contains underlying issues that many may seem to ignore. Mary Kramer, Advisor for the Community Health Education at MNSU, has been working to fully enforce the campus’ tobacco prohibition for the past four years. One way she was able to work on this was by creating a task force to help give quitting resources to students and staff. “We received a grant from the American Cancer Society and CVS, and we clarified and updated our tobacco on campus policy. That went into effect Aug. 1 of 2020. We also really worked on amping up our resources for students and employees and community members that would like to quit. So, we’re very fortunate to have, because of this grant money, some free quit-kits, which are available to Student Health Services and the pharmacy,” Kramer explained. These quit-kits were designed to include products and resources to help smokers kick the cravings and quit. In these kits, there were worry stones, flavored tea, flavored gum and information about nicQUIT on page 4 u
MNSU student Joey Novak shows their pride on National Coming Out day celebration held on the Campus Mall. The LGBT Center on campus gave students the opportunity to “come out” on Monday. Photo by DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter
The Herd is the word: Student section gets rowdy By JULIA BARTON Staff Writer When it comes to sporting events at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Maverick hockey takes the cake with the most fans and active
supporters in the arena. While the players are ultimately the ones making the moves on the ice, the student section, also known as The Herd, plays an important role in bringing school spirit to every game, especially when it
gets the whole stadium cheering. “We just always wanted it to be more hype at the games so I took control of that aspect and became the person who leads the student section,” CJ Mathis, senior at MNSU and President of The Herd, stated. “We have signs and we love leading the chants and chirping everyone. My favorite chant is ‘Condom’ which is where we spell condom and
say ‘what’s that spell’ and it’s a chant for when we are on defense,” Mathis said. The Herd also is responsible for planning the themes for the game as well as starting the chants. This past week the men’s team won both games played against University of Massachusetts, the reigning national champions of last season. “We’ve already knocked off the number one team in ROLL HERD on page 2 u
2 • MSU Reporter
News
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Students can receive free tutoring through MNSU campus By CLAIRE BRUNEAU Staff Writer For Minnesota State University, Manakto students, getting help with classes isn’t as difficult as it may seem. The Center for Academic Success is one way to receive extra help with overwhelming classes or to participate in the tutoring program. Signing up for the tutoring services is easier than one may think. By using the Center for Academic Success’ website, students can sign up by searching for the class they need help with and then selecting one of the available time slots. Students can even request a specific tutor if they have one in mind. Teresa Neubert, the Assistant Director for Writing, Speech and Languages at the Center for Academic Success said, “It definitely gets busy down here during exam week. We get over 4,000 students each semester, and on top of that over 2,000 in our writing program.” Neubert mentioned the popularity of some of the programs within the tutoring
center. “The writing program is definitely popular,” she said. “You can submit your documents to our tutors and get feedback back on them within 24 hours. We don’t just do homework assignments, we also do scholarships and other important documents.” Tutoring takes place with a one-on-one basis in the Wiecking Center 321 tutor lab. However, due to COVID-19 circumstances, Zoom options are available for all students. Freshman Brynn Burkhalter just started seeing a tutor and said it has helped. “I’ve been doing it for about a week or two now, but it really does help a lot, especially when you have a tough profesor that goes too fast or doesn’t explain in detail. I just needed a little one-on-one time to help me get it, especially with mid term exams coming up soon,” Burkhalter explained. To become a tutor there are a few requirements students must meet to ensure others are receiving helpful tutoring. It states on the center’s website that students must be at least a sophomore and
DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter
highest paying student work study job on campus, starting at $12 an hour. To emphasize the importance of students utilizing the tutoring opportunities, Neubert stated, “I would definitely say that if you’re struggling in any classes tutoring is a really great option. Your tutors have been in your shoes with your
professors and often know exactly how to help.” “The easiest way to contact us or set up a tutoring session with us is definitely to just stop by our Center for Academies Success office. It takes only minutes of our time, and I have seen so many students benefit from it,” Neubert commented.
Biden undercuts WH executive privilege shield
ROLL HERD Continued from page 1
ASSOCIATED PRESS
the nation and Friday we beat St. Cloud who beat us last year at the playoffs so I think this season is gonna be really exciting and the teams looking really really good,” Collin Jutting, senior at MNSU and Vice President of the Herd, shared. This year MNSU students and Maverick fans are able to attend the hockey games in person again after last season there were no fans allowed due to COVID-19 policies in place to protect the health of the players.
“Something I’m excited for this year is actually being able to go to the games this year since I wasn’t able to go last year because of COVID,” Tommy Walsh, sophomore at MNSU, said. “This season I’m really looking forward to Hockey Day in Minnesota,” Jillian Moor, sophomore at MNSU, shared. “One of my favorite things to watch at the hockey games is when the players fight, I love it,” Brennah Huberty, sophomore at MNSU, said. Being at the game to support your school is a great
It’s a risky move by President Joe Biden that could come back to haunt him — and future presidents — in the hyperpartisan world of Washington politics. Democrat Biden has agreed to a request from Congress seeking sensitive information on the actions of Republican Donald Trump and his aides during the Jan. 6 insurrection, though the former president claims the information is guarded by executive privilege. The move by Biden isn’t the final word; Trump says he will challenge the requests, and a lengthy legal battle is likely to ensue over the information. Courts have ruled that former presidents are afforded executive privilege in some cases. But the playbook for the legal world is different from the political world. And in the political world, “every time a president does something controversial, it becomes a building block for future presidents,” said Saikrishna Prakash, a law professor at the University of Virginia who studies presidential powers. Biden’s decision not to block the information sought
be available to tutor between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tutors also must have at least eight hours of open availability with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 while receiving a grade of A or B in the course they would like to tutor in. Tutoring is currently the
SUSAN WALSH • Associated Press
by Congress challenges a tested norm — one in which presidents enjoy the secrecy of records of their own terms in office, both mundane and highly sensitive, for a period of at least five years, and often far longer. That means Biden and future presidents, as well as Trump. While not spelled out in the Constitution, executive privilege has developed to protect a president’s ability to obtain candid counsel from his advisers without fear of immediate public disclosure and to protect his confidential communications relating to official responsibilities. But that privilege has its limitations in extraordinary
situations, as exemplified during the Watergate scandal, when the Supreme Court ruled that it could not be used to shield the release of secret Oval Office tapes sought in a criminal inquiry, and following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Jan. 6 insurrection belongs among those ranks, Biden’s White House counsel wrote to the keeper of records, the Archivist of the United States. The argument that the special circumstances of the attack justify the extraordinary release should guard against the erosion of executive privilege for presidencies going forward.
ROLL HERD on page 5 u
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Tuesday, October 12, 2021
News
MSU Reporter • 3
Indigenous Peoples Day marked with celebrations, protests ASSOCIATED PRESS Indigenous people across the United States marked Monday with celebrations of their heritage, education campaigns and a push for the Biden administration to make good on its word. The federal holiday created decades ago to recognize Christopher Columbus’ sighting in 1492 of what came to be known as the Americas increasingly has been rebranded as Indigenous Peoples Day. For Michaela Pavlat, cultural interpreter at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, the day is one of celebration, reflection and recognition that Indigenous communities are fighting for land rights, for the U.S. government to uphold treaties, and for visibility and understanding. “As long as you’re on Native land and stolen land, it’s Indigenous Peoples Day,” said Pavlat, who is Sault Ste. Marie Band of Chippewa Indians (Anishinaabe). “We have a lot of movement and a lot of issues we’re facing in our communities, and you can have that conversation every day.”
SNDREW HARNIK • Associated Press The words “Expect Us” are spray painted on the base of the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Park as Indigenous and environmental activists protest in front of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
More than a dozen protesters linked arms and sat along the White House fence line Monday to call on the Biden administration to do more to combat climate change and ban fossil fuels.
Others cheered and chanted in support from across the street as police blocked off the area with yellow tape and arrested the seated protesters. The Andrew Jackson statue at the center of Lafayette Park
was defaced with the words “Expect Us” — part of a rallying cry used by Indigenous people who have been fighting against fossil fuel pipelines. Jackson, a slave-owning president, forced Cherokees and
many other Native Americans on deadly marches out of their southern homelands. “Indigenous people have been on the front lines of protecting the land, the people, and it’s time for the government and these huge systems to do more,” said Angel Charley, of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, who was among the protesters. Indigenous groups also planned protests in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the Boston Marathon, race organizers honored 1936 and ’39 winner Ellison “Tarzan” Brown and three-time runner-up Patti Catalano Dillon, a member of the Mi’kmaq tribe. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, said she ran for missing and slain Indigenous people and their families, the victims of the boarding school era and the “promise that our voices are being heard and will have a part in an equitable and just future in this new era.” Others gathered for prayers, dances and other commemorations in cities across the U.S.
4 • MSU Reporter
News
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
3 US-based economists win Nobel for research on wages, jobs ASSOCIATED PRESS A U.S.-based economist won the Nobel prize in economics Monday for pioneering research that transformed widely held ideas about the labor force, showing how an increase in the minimum wage doesn’t hinder hiring and immigrants don’t lower pay for native-born workers. Two others shared the award for developing ways to study these types of societal issues. Canadian-born David Card of the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded half of the prize for his research on how the minimum wage, immigration and education affect the labor market. A U.S.-based economist won the Nobel prize in economics Monday for pioneering research that transformed widely held ideas about the labor force, showing how an increase in the minimum wage doesn’t hinder hiring and immigrants don’t lower pay for native-born workers. Two others shared the award for developing ways to study these types of societal issues. Canadian-born David Card of the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded half of the prize for his research on how the minimum wage, immigration and education affect the labor market. Together, they helped rapidly expand the use of “nat-
ural experiments,” or studies based on observing real-world data. Such research made economics more applicable to everyday life, provided policymakers with actual evidence on the outcomes of policies, and in time spawned a more popular approach to economics epitomized by the blockbuster bestseller “Freakonomics,” by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt. In a study published in 1993, Card looked at what happened to jobs at Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s and Roy Rogers when New Jersey raised its minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.05, using restaurants in bordering eastern Pennsylvania as the control — or comparison — group. Contrary to previous studies, he and his late research partner Alan Krueger found that an increase in the minimum wage had no effect on the number of employees. Card and Krueger’s research fundamentally altered economists’ views of such policies. As noted by the Economist magazine, in 1992 a survey of the American Economic Association’s members found that 79% agreed that a minimum wage law increased unemployment among younger and lower-skilled workers. Those views were largely based on traditional economic notions of supply and demand: If you raise the price of
VACCINE Continued from page 1 Sadie Schulz, a sophomore, echoed this, “I feel like it would be because who loves free stuff more than college students.” Others are looking at the program with a more critical lens. Sophomore Jessie Proell questions if others will really be intrigued by this incentive. “I think it’s a really good idea, but I just don’t think people would do it because some people are so clung on to what they believe in that they wouldn’t change it for money. That’s what I personally think,” Proell stated. Aiden Gaines, a fourth year student knew about the incentive and had time to ponder over it. “I’m also a student worker, technically, so I had to show my proof of vaccination anyways. I heard about this incentive and I think it would be better if they did something similar to I believe what our state did, or is still doing, where they gave just everyone who gets vaccinated $100 flat. I think if someone sees a giveaway they just think ‘I’m not gonna win that’ so it’s not as much as an incentive. If a semester’s $4,000 in tuition and you give that to five people, that’s a lot of money that
CLAUDIO BRESCIANI • TT via Associated Press Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Goran K Hansson, center, announces the 2021 Nobel prize for economics, flanked by members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Peter Fredriksson, left, and Eva Mork, during a press conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in Stockholm, Sweden, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
something, you get less of it. By 2000, however, just 46% of the AEA’s members said minimum wage laws increase unemployment, largely because of Card and Krueger. Their findings sparked interest in further research into why a higher minimum wouldn’t reduce employment. One conclusion was that companies are able to pass on the cost of higher wages to cus-
they could split up. I would recommend something like that.” MNSU does have a high percentage of students who have at least one dose of the shot. Jones mentioned that as of Sept 20, 60.4% of MN resident students have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Jones continued with, “Of our student employees, who have been a part of the proof of vaccine for the last couple of weeks here, they’re at 85% vaccine rate.” After less than a week following the announcement, Jones and other team members have seen a positive reaction to the program along with some clarification questions. “Some of the students are asking ‘How can I confirm that I’m eligible for the drawing?’ 48 hours after they turn in their proof of vaccine, whether it’s through Eservices or directly uploading it to their Patient Portal, you can go in there and see if the immunizations have been updated and that would indicate that you’re all good to go.” As stated on the email sent out by the MNSU Student Affairs, drawings for the free semester tuition and fees will be picked on Nov. 1 with one winner and Dec. 1 and Jan. 10 with two winners.
tomers by raising prices. In other cases, if a company is a major employer in a particular area, it may be able to keep wages particularly low, so that it could afford to pay a higher minimum, when required to do so, without cutting jobs. The higher pay would also attract more applicants, boosting labor supply. Their paper “has shaken up the field at a very fundamental
QUIT Continued from page 1 otine replacement therapy. Kramer hosts a free monthly coaching session for people who are looking to quit nicotine and tobacco, as she understands that these meetings can be useful for everyone. “What I’ve been doing is these monthly coaching sessions on Zoom. Sometimes it helps to just talk to a real person and I’m actually willing to meet one-on-one with someone too, I’m happy to do that.” Another useful and accessible resource included in the kits was the phone number to a vaping text program named This is Quitting, created by the Truth Initiative. “There’s a vaping texting program that has been very successful. It’s like a selfhelp texting program that tailors just for you, what is going to be your best chances [to quit],” Kramer stated. Cecilia Schafer is a recent MNSU graduate, who worked with Kramer on this program and is now a health educator with the Student Health Services on campus. “I was a research assistant for the grant that she [Kramer] wrote to make the policy stronger. We had one, but it just wasn’t very effective. In my time researching, we found out that everyone was on the same page, most staff and most students want no smoking on campus,” Schafer commented. While running the program, one event that took place was a vape trade-in, where
level,” said Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “And so for that reason, and all the following research that their work ignited, this is a richly deserved award.” Krueger would almost certainly have shared in the award, Dube said, but the economics Nobel isn’t given posthumously.
students and staff who sacrificed their vape were able to receive a gift card. In this event last November, approximately 42 people participated. After turning in their vaping device, the participants received some coaching and resource tips. “We know that just turning in your vape is just one small step, there’s many others to get through. At least the first three to seven days are the toughest for people,” Kramer stated. One problem both Kramer and Schaefer pointed out was the difficulty behind enforcing the tobacco policy on campus. “That one’s tricky because the only thing that we can really do now is help offer quitting resources. The main enforcement needs to come from the people who are in charge of themselves,” Schaefer stated. Schaefer understands the struggles that come with quitting nicotine, as she has had to quit smoking twice. Her biggest inspiration for quitting was how it would improve her health. “The biggest helper for me was just tracking as you go. Here’s what’s happening in your body in a month, here’s three months. Those first two weeks are really hard without the nicotine,” Schaefer pointed out. She also encourages students to take the same step as her and quit smoking. “It’s hard, but it’s do-able. It’s one of those things once you do it and get through the really hard part, it’ll feel a lot easier to not get sucked back in.”
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
At least 2 dead in California plane crash that burned homes
GREGORY BULL • Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS A small plane crashed in a densely populated San Diego suburb Monday, killing at least two people, including a UPS driver, and leaving a trail of destruction that sent neighbors scrambling to help neighbors. At least two others were injured. Witnesses described a retired couple being rescued from one of two homes that were destroyed in Santee, a largely residential suburb of 50,000 people. Ten other homes were damaged. Several vehicles, including a UPS delivery truck, were also torched. “Not to be too graphic, but it’s a pretty brutal scene,” Justin Matsushita, Santee’s deputy fire chief, said as firefighters searched the smoldering ruins. United Parcel Service of America Inc. confirmed one of its workers died. “We are heartbroken by
ROLL HERD Continued from page 2 way to get involved, meet new people, and be a part of the Mankato community. “I came to the hockey game to have fun since this is my first year and I’m really excited to just be a part of everything,” Rebecca Ward, freshman at MNSU, said. “I decided to go to the game to represent my school and our number one team and have a great time with my friends,” Jenna Moseng, freshman at MNSU, shared. MNSU men’s team fell short to the St. Cloud Huskies during the Frozen Four playoffs last season as fans had to watch the game on TV. “I’m looking forward to this season because we have a really good team this year and we can definitely get back to the Frozen Four and
the loss of our employee, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” the company said. “We also send our condolences for the other individuals who are involved in this incident, and their families and friends.” The condition of the two injured wasn’t immediately known. Michael Keeley 43, ran barefoot outside when his home shook. He saw the UPS truck in flames and found two neighbors at a burning home calling through an open window. With thick smoke inside the neighbors’ home and flames licking the roof, Keeley stood on a rock and reached through to grab the woman’s arm and help her climb out of the window. Her forearms were burned, and her hair was singed. “She kept saying, ‘My puppy, my puppy,’” Keeley said.
do some damage. I feel like a freshman again since this is the first year we could experience the game in person,” Connor Campbell, sophomore at MNSU, shared. “The boys have been performing well and I hope we make it back to the top this season,” Will Asher, sophomore at MNSU, said. “We’ve always been into going to big hockey games and it’s really exciting to see everyone. I came to the Friday game and it was so much fun,” Maddie Tilotta, sophomore at MNSU, said. Fans can expect an action packed season as MNSU men’s hockey team is currently ranked number one according to the USCHO D1 men’s poll. For those interested to be more involved in The Herd, they are hosting their first meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday in Morris Hall room 103.
News
MSU Reporter • 5
UK waited too long for lockdown ASSOCIATED PRESS The British government waited too long to impose a lockdown in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, missing a chance to contain the disease and leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths, a parliamentary report concluded Tuesday. The deadly delay resulted from ministers’ failure to question the recommendations of scientific advisers, resulting in a dangerous level of “groupthink” that caused them to dismiss the more aggressive strategies adopted in East and Southeast Asia, according to the joint report from the House of Commons’ science and health committees. It was only when Britain’s National Health Service risked being overwhelmed by rapidly rising infections that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government finally ordered a lockdown. “There was a desire to avoid a lockdown because of the immense harm it would entail to the economy, normal health services and society,” the report said. “In the absence of other strategies such as rigorous case isolation, a meaningful test-and-trace operation, and robust border controls, a full lockdown was inevitable and should have come sooner.’’ The U.K. parliamentary report comes amid frustration with the timetable for
ALBERTO PEZZALI • Associated Press In this Friday, March 6, 2020 file photo, the front page of the Evening Standard is displayed at Bond Street Station, in London.
a formal public inquiry into the government’s response to COVID-19, which Johnson says will start next spring. Lawmakers said their inquiry was designed to uncover why Britain performed “significantly worse” than many other countries during the early days of the pandemic so that the U.K. could improve its response to the ongoing threat from COVID-19 and prepare for future threats. The 150-page report is based on testimony from 50 witnesses, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and former government insider Dominic Cummings. It was unanimously approved by 22 lawmakers from the three largest parties in Parliament: the governing Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party and the Scottish National Party.
The committees praised the government’s early focus on vaccines as the ultimate way out of the pandemic and its decision to invest in vaccine development. These decisions led to Britain’s successful inoculation program. “Millions of lives will ultimately be saved as a result of the global vaccine effort in which the U.K. has played a leading part,” the committees said. But they also criticized the government’s test-and-trace program, saying its slow, uncertain and often chaotic performance hampered Britain’s response to the pandemic. The government’s strategy during the first three months of the crisis reflected official scientific advice that widespread infection was inevitable given that testing capacity was limited.
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6 • MSU Reporter
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
FALL 2021 EDITOR IN CHIEF:
MAXWELL MAYLEBEN
Grow up, vaping was never cool
maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu
MADISON DIEMERT
madison.diemert@mnsu.edu
Editorial You see it everywhere you go-- a college kid is frantically searching their pockets for the small and narrow device that brings them the quick relief of nicotine. Other times it’s someone stepping away from the group of people they’re with for a cigarette break. Nicotine and tobacco has claimed popularity with college students throughout the years, but that doesn’t mean it should be utilized to its fullest potential. One thing connected to vaping is the accessibility of it. There’s always someone who has a vape on them and is usually willing to let others take a hit or two off the vape. In its inception, vaping was created to wean smokers off of their addiction by giving them an alternative that gives them the nicotine, without the other harmful substances that can hurt people’s lungs. As time went on, this gave off a sense that these vapes were actually healthier than smoking tobacco, therefore it must be okay to smoke them. Generation Z has lived almost their entire life without smoking indoors, and followed a steep decline of smoking after Minnesota passed the “Freedom to Breathe” act in 2007. Gen Z is also more afraid of smoking in general, a result which is most likely a result of seemingly endless campaigns growing up about the
NEWS DIRECTOR: Jenna Peterson jenna.peterson-3@mnsu.edu MEDIA/DESIGN DIRECTOR: Mansoor Ahmad mansoor.ahmad@mnsu.edu SPORTS EDITOR: Daniel McElroy daniel.mcelroy@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING SALES: Baylee Sorensen 507-389-5097 baylee.sorensen@mnsu.edu
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horrors of smoking cigarettes. So with the downfall of cigarettes leaves a power vacuum for another addicting substance to take over the hearts and minds of the youth. Enter the vape. Pairing a sense of safety with smooth and nice flavors, the vape is the perfect way for a young person to get hooked. The Minnesota Department of Public Health states that around 19 percent of high school students have used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days. 70 percent of those stu-
dents are reported to show signs of dependency. As a high schooler, it can be extremely easy to fall into the trap of vaping. Social pressure, people who sneak a vape to school are seen as “risky” and “cool”. Because it is not allowed in high school is why its fun. But we are in college. No one cares if you vape. You don’t look cool vaping, you just look sad. Where at one point in our lives, vaping held the mystique of being prohibited, now, as
adults, we have to face the consequences of becoming dependent at a young age. The price tag attached to nicotine is also something to consider. As college students, we have other things to worry about, like paying off tuition, instead of making sure we have enough nicotine pods to get us through the weekend. At this point, the vaping trend is the cringiest thing that young people do to try and feel cool. So lay off the JUUL, and do something else that is better for you.
“Do you like vaping? Why or why not?” Compiled by Maddie Behrens
LIZA ROTTY, SOPHOMORE “It sucks that our generation had to get caught up in vaping.”
AUSTIN BIGELBACH, SENIOR
MYA HUSSEIN, FRESHMAN
“I don’t vape. It’s not real “I think vaping helps you stop great because of the damage it smoking cigs but you smoke can cause to the lungs.” more when you are vaping.”
TOPORIS NASH, SOPHOMORE
KATIE HUSTED, SENIOR
“Vaping is horrible because it’s very addictive and it has unknown chemicals in it.”
“I agree with the original purpose of vaping being a way to quit smoking .”
BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad 507-389-1926 jane.tastad@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING DESIGN/ PRODUCTION MGR.: Dana Clark 507-389-2793 dana.clark@mnsu.edu
• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, contact Editor in Chief Maxwell Mayleben at maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu. The Reporter will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board. • The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a studentrun newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-389-1776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes.
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
News
Merck asks FDA to authorize promising anti-COVID pill
MSU Reporter • 7
TX gov orders ban on private company vaccine mandate
JOEL MARINEZ • Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MERCK & CO. via Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill for treating COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easyto-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic. If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — a decision that could come in a matter of weeks — it would be the first pill shown to treat the illness. All other FDAbacked treatments against COVID-19 require an IV or injection. An antiviral pill that people could take at home to reduce their symptoms and speed recovery could prove groundbreaking, easing the crushing caseload on U.S. hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with weak health care systems. It would also bolster the two-pronged approach to the pandemic: treatment, by way of medication, and prevention, primarily through vaccinations. The FDA will scrutinize company data on the safety and effectiveness of the drug, molnupiravir, before rendering a decision. Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutic said they specifically asked the agency to grant emergency use for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for severe disease or hospitalization. That is roughly the way COVID-19 infusion drugs are used. “The value here is that it’s a pill so you don’t have to deal with the infusion centers and all the factors around
that,” said Dr. Nicholas Kartsonis, a senior vice president with Merck’s infectious disease unit. “I think it’s a very powerful tool to add to the toolbox.” The company reported earlier this month that the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by half among patients with early symptoms of COVID-19. The results were so strong that independent medical experts monitoring the trial recommended stopping it early. Side effects were similar between patients who got the drug and those in a testing group who received a dummy pill. But Merck has not publicly detailed the types of problems reported, which will be a key part of the FDA’s review. Top U.S. health officials continue to push vaccinations as the best way to protect against COVID-19. “It’s much, much better to prevent yourself from getting infected than to have to treat an infection,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said while discussing Merck’s drug last week. Still, some 68 million eligible Americans remain unvaccinated, underscoring the need for effective drugs to control future waves of infection. The prospect of a COVID-19 pill comes amid other encouraging signs: New cases per day in the U.S. have dropped below 100,000 on average for the first time in over two months, and deaths are running at about 1,700 a day, down from more than 2,000 three weeks ago. Also, the average number
of vaccinations dispensed per day has climbed past 1 million, an increase of more than 50% over the past two weeks, driven by the introduction of booster shots and workplace vaccine requirements. Still, heath authorities are bracing for another possible surge as cold weather drives more people indoors. Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have stressed the need for a convenient pill. The goal is for something similar to Tamiflu, the 20-year-old flu medication that shortens the illness by a day or two and blunts the severity of symptoms like fever, cough and stuffy nose. Three FDA-authorized antibody drugs have proved highly effective at reducing COVID-19 deaths, but they are expensive, hard to produce and require specialty equipment and health professionals to deliver. Assuming FDA authorization, the U.S. government has agreed to buy enough of the pills to treat 1.7 million people, at a price of roughly $700 for each course of treatment. That’s less than half the price of the antibody drugs purchased by the U.S. government — over $2,000 per infusion — but still more expensive than many antiviral pills for other conditions. Merck’s Kartsonis said in an interview that the $700 figure does not represent the final price for the medication. “We set that price before we had any data, so that’s just one contract,” Kartsonis said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday to prohibit any entity, including private business, from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on workers and called on state lawmakers to pass a similar ban into law. The move comes as the Biden administration is set to issue rules requiring employers with more than 100 workers to be vaccinated or test weekly for the coronavirus. Several major companies, including Texas-based American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have said they would abide by the federal mandate. “No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who
objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19,” Abbott wrote in his order. Abbott, who was previously vaccinated and also later tested positive for COVID-19, noted in his order that “vaccines are strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, but must always be voluntary for Texans.” Montana has passed a law preventing employers from mandating workers get vaccines, and a number of states have explicitly said schools cannot require vaccinations. Abbott previously barred vaccine mandates by state and local government agencies, but until now had let private companies make their own rules for their workers.
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Tuesday, October 12, 2021
McKay earns 26th shuout as Mavs split By DANIEL McELROY Sports Editor Maverick fans have been waiting for a very long time to come back to the Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center to watch their team play in a series for the first time since pre-COVID-19. And a series is what they got. The No. 1 Mavericks (3-10) maintained their top rank in the country following their split series against the No. 2 St. Cloud State Huskies (3-10). “We wanted to get that revenge on them, there are a lot of hard feelings there,” said Nathan Smith, who scored the game-winning goal in the Mavericks’ 1-0 victory over St. Cloud in their first meeting since the Frozen Four. Smith, the Winnipeg Jets’ 2018 third round draft pick, came into the weekend as the Mavericks leading goal and point scorer with a 2-3-5 stat line. Despite the low scoring game between the top two teams in the country, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any action. Dryden McKay was a stud for the Mavericks in their third win in a row in the 2021 season, stopping all 20 shots that came his way. McKay earned his 26th career shutout as a Maverick, tying Ryan Miller’s NCAA record. “None” was head coach
By DANIEL McELROY Sports Editor
MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter Dryden McKay is one shutout away from breaking the NCAA all-time shutout record.
Mike Hastings’ response to how much money he would have put on McKay tying the record in the first three games of the season. “I’m happy for him. His demeanor really hasn’t changed over the last couple of years, other than I think his confidence has grown because of the work he’s put in. He’s a very humble young man. … Nobody is going to put more expectations on Dryden than Dryden,” Hastings said about his senior goaltender. Earlier in the week, McKay said in a press conference that a shutout “is always the goal.
… I don’t care if we win 1-0, or 6-5, a win is a win.” Putting the team first is something McKay has always done and has earned praise from his teammates for doing so. “Dryden [is] Dryden,” Smith said. “He’s going to come out and play, he’s always calm every single night. … We know what to expect from him and he gives it every single night. We have a lot of trust in him and for him to get this accomplishment it means so much. He’s carried this program to where it is today.” McKay entered Saturday
hoping for a performance to stun the Huskies and get the team’s second sweep of the year, but St. Cloud got the best of the Mavericks in the early stages of the game, and hung on to split the series with MSU. The high intensity carried over from Friday into Saturday, where St. Cloud managed to score two goals in the first seven minutes, gaining an early lead. Between St. Cloud’s two goals, things got physical. Senior Reggie Lutz taking a shot on goal right after the whisSPLIT on page 11 u
Football stunned by Wayne State, fall out of top 25 MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter
By KOLE BUELOW Staff Writer After a rough 1-1 start to the season, top ranked Minnesota State saw themselves in position to either fall below .500 for the first time since 2011 or get back on track with a win over Bemidji State. With a successful win against the Beavers, the Mavericks had been unstoppable ever since, totaling three wins in three weeks and outscoring opponents nearly 4:1 in that stretch. This was until Wayne State came to town. All growing pains seemed to have been set aside for the Mavs, yet the Wildcats took advantage of second half ad-
Vetter nets six against UIU, WSU
Jalen Sample made 12 receptions for 109 yards in the loss.
justments to overcome No. 11 Minnesota State by a score of 35-24. Minnesota State headed into halftime with a three point
lead, thanks to a last second drive ending in a 41 yard field goal by junior Luke Williams. All seemed promising heading into the fourth quarter
with the Mavericks holding a 24-7 lead, but no one knew what was coming. Wayne State finished off a third quarter drive to start off the fourth, punching in a one yard quarterback keeper to cut the Mavs lead down to ten. The Wildcats did not stop there, stopping MSU on their proceeding drive and scoring a 71 yard passing touchdown on the first play of their drive to cut the MSU lead to three. The next drive went just as poorly for Minnesota State, following a fumble recovered by Wayne State. With all the momentum on their side, the Wildcats punched in yet another touchdown on a 32 yard rush from FALLING on page 12 u
The Minnesota State soccer team stayed red hot over the weekend with two shutout wins over Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Mavericks dominated every aspect of the game against the Upper Iowa Peacocks, sending them packing with a 5-0 win. Minnesota State got things started right away with Jenny Vetter’s goal at 14:26. This would be Vetter’s first goal of not two, not three, but four goals on the day. Vetter also scored in the 21st, 26th, and 47th minutes to bring her goal total to nine on the year following Friday’s game. Nadia Lowery managed to get one goal of her own in the win, good for her second of the year. The Mavericks held UIU to just two shots on goal with only three attempts. Mackenzie Rath played the majority of the game with 73 minutes played and made the two saves, while Ava Blackney came in for the final 17 minutes to get some more of that experience, as she came into MSU as a redshirt freshman. The Mavericks had a similar theme with their game against Winona on Sunday, taking down Winona State by a score of 4-0. The Mavericks had an early start with Allie Williams’ unassisted goal in the 21st minute, but the game stayed quiet for the rest of the first half, and a lot of the second half, when Vetter came in to get two goals within three minutes of each other, bringing her season total to 11. Brynn Desens sealed the win for the Mavericks with a penalty kick goal. The six goal weekend skyrocketed Vetter into second in the NSIC for total goals, only one goal behind BSU’s Sara Wendt.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Sports
MSU Reporter • 11
Women’s hockey completes comeback against Lions By KOLE BUELOW Staff Writer After being able to split their previous series against top ranked Minnesota-Duluth, the Minnesota State women’s hockey team was set to take on Lindenwood College in their third two-game series of the season this past weekend. The Mavericks came into the series 3-1 overall and were set to face the winless Lions in hopes of improving to 5-1. Lindenwood was able to take advantage of a slow start from the Mavs to start of game one, scoring back to back goals in the final five minutes of the first period. That seemed to be the end of the Lions scoring run, and the start of new-found energy for the Mavericks, as they came out firing on all cylinders in the second. Minnesota State forward Kelsey King was an absolute force in the second period, scoring all three of the Mavericks goals and putting the team in the lead by one heading into the third. The Mavs had no problem rallying behind King, as they tallied on three more goals in the third
MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter Kelsey King (20) tied the record for most goals in a single game as a Maverick with four.
to claim game one by a score of 6-2. King finished with four goals and one assist on Friday night, totalling five points in an amazing performance. Forwards Brittyn Fleming and Kennedy Bobyck had no problem rallying behind King,
each totalling three assists while Mavs goaltender Calla Frank had 21 saves. Game two was a much different story for Lindenwood, as they were able to continue getting points on the board throughout the game in a high scoring shootout. The Maver-
icks flipped the opening script on the Lions to start the game in game two, being able to put up the opening goal just over five minutes into the game. The Mavs did not stop there as they continued their scoring in the second period, scoring four goals to the Li-
Mavs volleyball gets back on track with two wins After coming off of their toughest weekend of volleyball of the season, the Minnesota State team had a good chance to turn things around with matchups at home against Minnesota-Crookston and Bemidji State. The Mavericks extended their win streak to seven games when playing against Minnesota-Crookston with their 3-0 sweep against the Golden Eagles. Minnesota State went into the Taylor Center feeling confident as their opponent has won one match all season. In the first set, their confidence proved to come with good reason. Throughout the entire set, there was only at one point where the Mavericks were not in the lead, and that was when the score was tied at 2-2. Mariah Edgington and Jessica Nelson really shone through in this set, with the combination grabbing seven of the eight kills in the first set from MSU. Set two was a tad closer to start out, but the Mavericks made it no contest, and dominated almost the entirety of the set. MSU scored seven of the final nine points in the set, taking the 25-15 set win and the 2-0 lead. In the third set, Minnesota Crookston found themselves in an unfamiliar position with the lead for the first time of the day. Unfortunately for them, it was taken away very fast. Crookston started the set winning the first point to go up 1-0, but MSU put them in their place, as the Mavericks took nine of the next 11 points. The third set was so dominant for
DAVID FAULKNER • SPX Sports via Maverick Athletics
By DANIEL McELROY • Sports Editor
The Minnesota State volleyball team is ranked ninth in the NSIC at 10-7 (5-4 NSIC).
MSU, that it was their biggest winning margin of the day at 25-12. Head coach Corey Phelps was very fond of his team’s performance as they “came out and took care of business, and we stayed disciplined and stayed aggressive throughout.” Phelps also said, “it was a good win for us because we came out and we stuck to our game plan and stayed aggressive.” Going into Saturday, the Mavericks were set to take on the winless Bemidji State Beavers, but still caused some trouble for the Mavericks. The Mavericks got off to a strong 3-0 start, but started to make some misplays defensively, allowing the Beavers to bring it to 3-3.
When the match became tied at 5, the Mavericks endured what was one of the longest rallies of the season, eventually grabbing the point with a kill from Emilee Terry. MSU started to pull ahead to 10-7, forcing the Bemidji State head coach, Kevin Ulmer, to take a timeout. Ulmer ended up making the right choice, earning four straight points to take over the lead 11-10. Despite a great effort from BSU, the Mavericks regained and maintained the lead for the remainder of the set. Set one went to MSU 25-16. Bemidji comes out in set two and grabs the first point with a great fake from the SWEEP on page 12 u
ons one to extend their lead to 5-1 heading into the third period. All seemed to be done if the Mavericks could hold on in the last period but Lindenwood had other ideas. The Lions came out of the second intermission swinging, scoring five unanswered to give themselves the lead 6-5 with under five minutes remaining in the third. Fortunately for the Mavericks, sophomore forward Sydney Langseth was able to find the back of the net with less than four minutes remaining to tie the game. Neither team was able to score to finish out the period, so they headed to overtime. Just 23 seconds into extra time Lindenwood senior Sierra Burt found herself in the penalty box for cross checking to give Minnesota State the man-advantage. The Mavericks took advantage of it, burying their seventh goal of the night thanks to Langseth once again. Langseth proved to be the hero for the Mavs in this one, scoring each of their last two goals to give the Mavs the tie and eventually the game winner.
SPLIT Continued from page 10 tle blew, turned into a fight with all 10 players on the ice. Three players from each team went into the box for roughing after the whistle, offsetting the penalties and keeping a 5-on-5. This set the tone for the entire game, as it only got chippier from there. The 60-minute contest saw 38 penalty minutes, including a 10-minute misconduct from SCSU’s Easton Brodzinski. The Huskies went into the third period with a 3-0 lead over the Mavericks, but they didn’t give up. MSU managed to cut the lead down to two with Lutz’s late third period goal with 3:10 left, but wouldn’t find any more success for the night. After the game, Hastings said he was impressed with St. Cloud and they were the better team that night. “You knew they were going to make a push and try and impact the game as quickly as they possibly could, and they did,” Hastings said. “They came out and played with some pace that we didn’t handle very well. … Kudos to St. Cloud, we knew they were a good hockey team and they deserve to win tonight.”
12 • MSU Reporter
Sports
good football teams. FALLING Sleezer has been dressed Continued from page 10 senior Anthony Watkins to take the lead 28-24. The bleeding did not stop there for the Mavericks as they were not able to get anything going offensively, turning the ball over on downs. Wayne State was yet again able to capitalize, scoring their fourth touchdown of the quarter and undoubtedly sealing the win over Minnesota State 35-24. It was a difficult loss for Minnesota State, who now finds themselves 4-2 overall on the season heading into week seven against Upper Iowa. Mavericks head coach Todd Hoffner explained, “Someone came into our house and beat us, and that’s the first time that’s happened since 2016… we’ve got 24 hours to suck it up and then we have to move forward.” Minnesota State has found themselves in an uncomfortable circumstance going forward. And without starting running back Kaleb Sleezer, it has been even more difficult to generate offense against
on the sidelines for the past two games, but has not seen any playing time in those two contests. Hoffner noted Sleezer has been dealing with an undisclosed injury and is on his way back to 100 percent every week. On the defensive side of the ball, junior Bedale Naba had himself a game against Wayne State, finishing with six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Naba is absolutely electric on the field and one of the most emotional defensive tackles in the game at any given time. “I just got to try and focus on being a leader out there. Hopefully I can uplift everyone else to follow along with me. It’s a team game,” Naba said. Naba is looking forward to more games to come, and is going to continue bringing the energy in upcoming games in the hopes his teammates can rally behind him. The Mavericks will attempt to get back on track this weekend on the road against the Upper Iowa Peacocks (0-6)
of the set at 12-9, forcing SWEEP Continued from page 11 Minnesota State head coach Beaver setter, sending the ball right over the net. BSU extended their lead to 3-1, but wouldn’t last very long. The Mavericks went on a 6-1 run, making it a 7-4 game. The set stayed close with the teams trading points, but MSU gained the 13-11 advantage, forcing BSU to take another timeout. This one wasn’t quite as successful, as the Mavericks came out of it with a 4-1 run, followed by yet another Beaver timeout. The Beavers, making an attempt to grab their first set off of the Mavericks, made it a close end to the first set, but came up short, as the Mavericks took the set 25-19. Set three had the Mavericks come out with the lead after some back and forth at 7-4, but the Beavers managed to tie it at 7. Ellie Danielson, with one of the most powerful shots in this match, tried to regain the lead, but was met with a pair of blockers from the side of BSU. Mariah Edgington did the same thing, this time coming out successful, not just once, but twice in a row. The Beavers found themselves with the first lead
into their first timeout of the match. The Mavericks were able to slow down the Beavers momentum with the timeout, making it a 15-12 game for the Minnesota State Mavericks. The Beavers, at this point very desperate in the match to take a set off of the Mavericks, managed to grab another lead at 17-16, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Mavericks pulled away with the set by a score of 25-21 and took away their second 3-0 sweep of the weekend. The Beavers were able to cause some problems for Minnesota State in this match, despite not finding any success on the season yet. When speaking to Bemidji State’s winless record, Phelps said, “...they’re not a team that’s going to knock you over offensively, so it’s hard to stay focused and intentful about continuing attacking.” Phelps went on to say, “it’s one of those things where you’re fighting the urge to just ease up and play the game, rather than get at them at every point.” With the wins, Minnesota State improved to 10-7 (5-4 NSIC), and 9th in the NSIC standings.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Vikings win overshadows strange second half ASSOCIATED PRESS After Greg Joseph’s game-winning field goal went through the uprights on Sunday, euphoria overcame the Minnesota Vikings. Teammates lifted Joseph on their shoulders as they celebrated the 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions. An hour or so earlier, no one would have expected Minnesota to need a last-second field goal to win. The Vikings knew they avoided a potentially devastating loss. “It’s better than a loss, that’s for sure,” coach Mike Zimmer admitted after the game. “But yeah, it probably feels different, yeah.” Minnesota scored on its first three possessions and held a 13-3 lead at home against the winless Lions. Against a Detroit defense that was 31st in the NFL entering the game in allowing 6.63 yards per play, the Vikings offense then went stagnant. After Alexander Mattison’s late fumble, the Lions took their first lead of the game with 37 seconds left. Forced to open up the offense again, Minnesota went 46 yards in five plays to set up Joseph’s game-winning kick. “We scored on our first three possessions this game and that’s offense,” center Garrett Bradbury said Monday. “You’d like them to be touchdowns instead of two field goals but, nonetheless, it’s a great start in the first
BRUCE KLUCKHOHN • Associated Press
half. We got to find a way to make plays third quarter, fourth quarter and get points. Defense did an unbelievable job and we can help them out a lot more by putting points on the board.” Sunday continued a trend for the Vikings’ offense and defense. The offense has gone missing in the second half of games, while the defense finds its footing in the second half. The offense hasn’t scored a second-half touchdown since Week 1. In the past three games, all at home, the Vikings have scored 15 points in the second half. “No matter how the game looks in the second half, we understand that we have the guys to go out there and make plays,” Mattison said. “We just have to clean it up.” Conversely, the team’s defense has maintained games while the offense has strug-
gled. In those past three home games, the Vikings have only allowed 14 points in the second half of games. Eight of the points came Sunday after Mattison’s fumble, which gave Detroit the ball at the 20-yard line, its deepest field position of the game. Minnesota’s defense is the league leader on third downs in the second half of games, allowing conversions on two of 26 opportunities (7.7%), according to Sportradar. The 34 points allowed in the second half is the second-fewest allowed behind only Denver (28), according to Sportradar. When Minnesota is pushing the offense down the field, quarterback Kirk Cousins and receiver Justin Jefferson have been in sync. Jefferson is building on his Pro Bowl rookie season with 33 catches for 462 yards through five games.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Raiders’ Gruden resigns over offensive emails
DON WRIGHT • Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS Jon Gruden has resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after emails he sent before being hired in 2018 contained racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments. Gruden released a statement Monday night, saying: “I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.” He stepped down after The New York Times reported that Gruden frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the NFL. The NFL Network first reported the development. A person familiar with the decision said special teams and assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia will take over on an interim basis. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn’t been announced. It was a rapid downfall for Gruden, who is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018. It started on Friday when the Wall Street Journal reported that Gruden used a racist term to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 email to former Washington executive Bruce Allen. The emails were discovered in a workplace misconduct investigation into the Washington Football Team but ended up costing Gruden his job when they also showed Gruden denounced the drafting of a gay player and the tolerance of players protesting during the playing of the national anthem among other issues. Gruden apologized for his “insensitive remarks” about Smith, saying they were made out of frustration over the
2011 lockout. But the latest emails sent from between 2011-18 when Gruden was an analyst for ESPN show his use of derogatory language went well beyond that. A league source confirms the accuracy of the emails and said they were sent to the Raiders last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t made the emails public. Raiders owner Mark Davis said last week that the email about Smith was “disturbing and not what the Raiders stand for” and said the team was reviewing the additional emails. Davis issued a statement Monday saying only that he accepted Gruden’s resignation. The Times reported that Gruden used a gay slur to insult Goodell and said he was “clueless” and “anti-football.” He also said Goodell shouldn’t have pressured the Rams to draft “queers,” a reference to Michael Sam, who was the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out as gay in June and is the first openly gay player to appear in an NFL game. In a 2017 email, the Times said Gruden responded to a sexist meme of a female official by saying: “Nice job roger.” The paper also said Gruden criticized Goodell and the NFL league for trying to reduce concussions, and said that Eric Reid, a player who had demonstrated during the playing of the national anthem, should be fired. The newspaper said Gruden also mocked an article in 2017 about players calling on Goodell to support their efforts promoting racial equality and criminal justice reform. “He needs to hide in his concussion protocol tent,” Gruden wrote.
Sports
MSU Reporter • 13
Georgia challenge is to finish No. 1 ASSOCIATED PRESS Georgia finds itself in a most unusual position. No. 1. For the first time since the 1982 season, when a guy named Herschel Walker starred at running back, the Bulldogs hold the top spot in The Associated Press rankings during the season. Now, the challenge is to stay there. “It’s just a number, right?” coach Kirby Smart said Monday. “I don’t see a plateau. The goal is to be number one at the end of the season. You always know that.” Led by a ferocious defense that has allowed just two touchdowns and 26 points, the Bulldogs (6-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) climbed to No. 1 after defending national champion Alabama was upset by Texas A&M. The Bulldogs were a unanimous choice in the AP poll. Georgia hasn’t been top dog since the 2008 preseason poll, a spot they surrendered even after winning their opening game. One must go back nearly four decades to find the last time the Bulldogs were No. 1 during the season. In 1982, Georgia moved to No. 1 in early November after a 44-0 win over Florida and held that spot for the final two games of the regular season, setting up a 1-2 showdown with Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.
BUTCH DILL • Associated Press
The Nittany Lions prevailed 27-23 to claim the national championship. Georgia hopes to finish the job that long-ago team failed to complete, though its a much-different era. The regular season is now 12 games instead of 11. The SEC championship game provides another potential roadblock. And it takes two playoff victories to win a national championship. “Everybody’s goal is there, but to have an opportunity to do that you have to be in the top four,” Smart told reporters at his weekly news conference. “That’s the most critical part. We won’t get caught up in that, let you guys write about it. That’s not a burden we carry. The burden we carry is how we play.” Still, the No. 1 ranking carries plenty of gravitas. As if to remind the Bull-
dogs where they are and what they’re chasing, former coach Vince Dooley — now 89 years old — attended Smart’s media briefing. Dooley remains the only coach to guide Georgia to an undisputed national championship, way back in 1980. There have been a few close calls since then. Under Mark Richt, the 2002 Bulldogs finished No. 3 with only a single loss, an upset by Florida that ruined their national title hopes. Georgia made another run in 2007, also under Richt, but wound up No. 2 in the final AP poll. Most notably, Smart led the Bulldogs to the national title game against Alabama at the end of the 2017 season. The Crimson Tide rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit and won 26-23 on Tua Tagovailoa’s walk-off, 41-yard touchdown pass.
14 • MSU Reporter
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Undergraduate creates pieces from the ground-up By SYDNEY BERGGREN Staff Writer
“Paint is so much more than just color,” said Ben Liebl, featured artist of the 2021 Summer Undergraduate Research grant Showcase. Liebl’s artwork is being featured in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Hearth Lounge exhibition inside of the Centennial Student Union. “I wanted to push my work towards being on a larger scale, as well as shifting to making my own materials, specifically oil paint,” said Liebl on his initial ideas when he received the grant. “A lot of my work deals with criticizing the post industrial age that we live in, so it felt fitting that I needed to not be a part of that industrialism and instead make my own materials.” Liebl is a drawing major, but said that the exhibition is so heavily painting-based because of his research. “I like using oil paint specifically, compared to using acrylic because acrylic paint is essentially just liquid plastic,” he explained. “I felt as a painter making work about the landscape and the bad relationship we have towards it that using plastic to spread that message would feel really weird.” The piece that Leibl has the most connection to within his exhibit is titled “In American Medusa is a Soccer Mom.” The piece, which holds the unique effect of being multi-media even though it remains exclusively oil paint, holds a special place for the artist. “I think the piece has the strongest feelings tied to it, just not necessarily good feelings,” said Liebl. “It has a lot of passion and concept behind it.” The piece is a dedication to an experi-
Conkling Art Gallery showcases artwork created by student Ben Liebl. Liebl was awarded the undergraduate research grant for his work.
Photos by HANNA MUN • The Reporter
ence that Liebl had walking through a park in North Mankato. “I was walking through a park one day and noticed there was a statue tucked away off the path. I walked up to it, and saw that it was dedicated to an indigenous leader and the indigenous people of this area. Yet around this space there were these buildings being put up, like your cheap cookie cutter sort of housing developments of these middle class, predominantly white neighborhoods,” Liebl described. “So I thought there was this huge juxtaposition between this statue designed to honor or remember what was literally genocide, and yet everyone is back to business as usual building these cheap houses and destroying the land. It felt like a very conflicting space to me.” He then went on to speak about his history with art. “I started getting into art at the end of high school. I was not at all interested in the beginning,” Liebl said. “I had been more interested in science and philosophy, but what I like about art is that it’s a place for all of those interests to come together. I got really interested in art as a social tool, or a tool to start a conversation.” Additionally, Liebl had a mentor who helped him in realizing his potential. “I had a teacher who is a professional artist, and his work deals with similar ideas to mine,” he said. “He basically showed me the potential that you can have a career as an artist and that you can express your ideas through art.” Leibl’s exhibit will remain in the Hearth Lounge until Wednesday.
Founders Day event celebrates MNSU’s 153rd birthday By LILLY SCHMIDT • Staff Writer This past Thursday, President Edward Inch addressed Minnesota State University, Mankato while celebrating the school’s 153rd birthday. MNSU was founded on Oct. 7, 1868 and President Inch commented on the state of University in 2021. “We grew to be something considerably more than the normal school educating teachers and twenty-seven students,” he began. “We grew to be the second largest university in the state and the largest in the university state system. There’s a lot to be proud of here.” MNSU now has over 14,000 students enrolled. President Inch also briefed the audience of the founder’s day event on some of the school’s history. Afterwards, he discussed the University’s impacts on a larger scale. “That’s one of the things I find remarkable about our University: how closely we’re connected to one an-
DAN BENSON • MNSU Student Government President Reauna Stiff speaks at the Founders Day event on the campus mall in front of the Centennial Student Union.
other, to the success of our region, and to the success of our state, and so I’m very proud to be here,” he said. MNSU junior Garbiella Sanchez
played with the MavMachine at the event and shared what founder’s day means to them, “It’s a celebration of where we started from. It’s a time to
reflect on where we came from and where we are now.” Sanchez takes pride in the school as well, explaining, “I had no idea that we had the first female president at a university and that was Julia Sears, which I thought was fantastic.” After his speech, President Inch invited David Jones, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, to share a couple words regarding MNSU’s most recent growth. Jones shared, “We have new programming in health.” He also added, “We have health communication degrees. We have seen the importance of communication health during a crisis such as the one we’re going through now.” Furthermore, he said, “We have new programs in criminal’s correction law enforcement.” He then continued on to add that, “We also have a new agribusiness and food innovation program as we look at this region’s needs. When we look at isBIRTHDAY on page 15 u
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Variety
MSU Reporter • 15
Like girls, MNSU’S freshmen just wanna have fun By EMMA JOHNSON Staff Writer
Freshmen get handed the short end of the stick. They have to balance academic responsibilities, learn how to live independently and find places of comfort in a new town. As freshmen, however, it can be difficult to find new places to eat, relax and spend time with friends. Most freshmen don’t have cars, making it difficult to get around so setting aside time to find those places is crucial in order to have a good time in college. An easy place to go off-campus are coffee shops. Oftentimes quiet and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, coffee shops are a great place to go to study for classes. With a comfortable atmospheres, freshman Melanie Pelarski decided to go off-campus to River Rock Coffee Bar, her new favorite place to go. “I don’t like to go to coffee shops that are crowded and busy, so when I looked up images online, it looked very comforting,” said Pelarski. “They have really pretty scenery and the workers are welcoming and friendly. It’s a great place to get your mind set on school work.” The downtown area is also a great place to find restaurants that are perfect for nights-out and businesses that are great places to study. Often the best shops are ones that catch you by surprise.
DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter South Front Street, located in downtown Mankato, is home to many of students favorite places to eat and hang out with their friends. Different activities along the road include coffee shops, a bookstore, boutiques and bars.
For senior Kiersten Olson, she came across Once Read Used Book Store, a local bookstore by chance. “The door was open and it looked really cute,” said Olson. “It’s very peaceful and calming and a great place to read and do homework.” If students prefer to study on-campus, there are a variety of shops that are available, no
matter what your interests are. From boutiques to sporting good stores, there is something for everyone to indulge in. One of senior Emil Otteson’s favorite places to go is The Dork Den, a place where tabletop games ranging from Apples to Apples to Dungeons and Dragons, and video games are sold. The events and products have made the store a
favorite of Otteson’s. “I play a lot of tabletop games and read comic books and they have a great selection there,” said Otteson. “They occasionally host game nights where people go in and play and those are fun to attend.” Heading off-campus with a group of friends is a great way to explore the town and step out of your comfort zone, es-
Women should make sandwiches, not pay for them
Satire It was a Tuesday in June when I purchased a $15 sub sandwich for my boyfriend. It was also the day I decided to let the patriarchy remain and gender roles prevail as I would never again offer to pay for my boyfriend’s food, seeing as that’s historically a man’s job, and I was out $15. This all could have been avoided and the patriarchy would by now be in ruins beneath my feet, if only my stubborn boyfriend didn’t deny his need for glasses, resulting in him mistaking a menu item for $4.99 instead of $14.99. Only a moron would proceed to pay $15 for a sub. Even after hearing the ridiculous cost of a sandwich I
DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter
By ASHLEY OPINA Staff Writer
The sandwich that singlehandedly kept that patriarchy upright.
could make for him at home, seeing as that’s historically a woman’s job, I chose to be a moron. That part’s on me. The rest of the blame falls on my boyfriend, 21 and legally blind. “I swear I didn’t know,” he said all apologetically. Puppy eyes lacking 20/20 vision and everything. How could I get mad at that?
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied while worrying about it. Trying to figure out how to tell my parents I was filing for personal bankruptcy over a sub was the only thing on my mind. I imagined the interaction to go something like this: “Why do you buy food when there’s enough food at home to feed a village?”
That line would undoubtedly come from my mom. She’s persistent on saving money when it comes to food, and her selective hearing would choose only the part where I said my boyfriend and I went out to eat. Not the part where I, her beloved only child, was now financially broke and internally broken. My dad, on the other hand, would offer me a 20. Thanks dad. That’s why I tell you these things first, despite the fact that you redirect me to mom right after. Made-up anecdotes aside, I love all three of them. But would I ever spend $15 on a sandwich again for my loved ones? Absolutely. Because, as I’ve mentioned above, I’m a moron. This article was written by an overly sarcastic feminist and should only be seen as a joke, just like the price of that sandwich.
pecially if you’re new. Finding those special spots early on makes the college experience even more enjoyable too. “There are a lot of total gems that you’ll miss if you don’t go out and look at the tons of small, local businesses,” said Otteson. “If you don’t go, they might close, so it’s worth it to go out and explore.”
BIRTHDAY Continued from page 14 sues such as food security, as well as how we deliver better and higher quality foods with sustainable practices around food technologies and many other emerging fields, we look to think about how we can enrich not only our industries, but our society in general.” Following David Jones, Student Body President Reauna Stiff provided closing remarks for the day. “The University has been educating students for a very long time, preparing them for a better life and preparing them to go out into the workforce,” she said. She then ended her remarks by noting that, “it [the University] will be here long after we’re gone, and it was here way before we were here. I’m excited to see how the University expands and grows.”
16 • MSU Reporter
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